(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 11/16/2023) – Later today (3:30 p.m.), the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia) plans to join prominent local Imams and community members for funeral prayers for the more than 12,000 civilians who have been killed in Gaza over the past five weeks. The prayers, called “salat al-ghaib” (sa-lat al-guy-ib), are funeral prayers performed for Muslims who have died in a distant place and have no one to pray for them. Jewish Voice for Peace and the Philly Palestine Coalition also plan to be present at the event.
The prayers, which a robust coalition of multi-faith leaders will witness and support, will seek mercy for the innumerable babies, children, elders, and loved ones of all faiths and ethnicities who have been killed. It will culminate in a powerful call for Pennsylvania’s elected leaders to demand a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza.
WHAT: Funeral 12,000 Civilian Lives Lost in Gaza, Demand Ceasefire from Pennsylvania’s Elected Officials
WHEN: Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 3:30 P.M. EST
WHERE: Faith leaders and community members will meet at 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA and then travel to location.
*Call press contact for exact action location*
CONTACT: Maggie Hart, [email protected], 973-303-5158
The traditional funeral prayer will follow a series of escalating actions demanding a ceasefire and is the first public Imam-led action to take place since the onset of last month’s atrocities in Gaza.
WHAT: CAIR-Philadelphia to joinGreaterPhiladelphia AreaImams, Multifaith Community for Janāzah to Grieve 12,000 Civilian Lives Lost in Gaza, Demand Ceasefire from Pennsylvania’s Elected Officials with Civil Disobedience
WHERE: Faith leaders and community members will meet at 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA and then travel to location.
*Call press contact for exact action location*
WHEN: Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 3:30 P.M. EST
WHO: Imams and Muslim faith leaders, Rabbis, Ministers, Buddhist leaders, allies, and organizersconnected with CAIR Philadelphia, Jewish Voice for Peace-Philadelphia, and the Philly Palestine Coalition.
CAIR-Philadelphia is a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group promoting justice and mutual understanding. Their mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. https://pa.cair.com/
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world. JVP organizes a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle, guided by a vision of justice, equality and dignity for all people. http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org
The Philly Palestine Coalition is an alliance of Palestinian, Black and Indigenous community members and organizations working to support and uplift Palestinian leadership and liberation. www.instagram.com/phillypalestinecoalition/
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Contact: CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu, PhD; 617-401-5397, [email protected], for event details: Maggie Hart, [email protected], 973-303-5158